Features

The Michigan Board of Education recently approved a new voluntary guidance policy to help Michigan schools create supportive, welcoming, gender inclusive environments to reduce suicide rates among young people and keep students in school.

Dr. Patrick O’Connor’s commitment to education and experience with students in rural, urban and suburban schools gives him a unique perspective on the ways that a community impacts education.

It started with a brief text from a student: “I don’t know who to talk to.” From there, it evolved into a revealing text conversation between the student and a dedicated, specially trained tip line technician. 

Utilizing trained safety dogs to detect harmful substances in schools is not a new concept. But now, schools are finding ways to integrate the dogs into the school community, building a relationship of respect with students that means more than just interrupting the school day.

Students speak out about what the Michigan Department of Education's new LGBT guidelines means to them, and how it will change policies moving forward.

Notice, invite, challenge and empower. Those are the words that make up the mental health education curriculum for schools in Muskegon County, a curriculum inspired by a family tragedy and a sad statistic regarding mental health in teens.

Brian Whiston, state superintendent of Michigan, was named 2014’s Superintendent of the Year while working for Oakland Public Schools. Today, he brings that same dedication to teachers and students across the state.

Rick Joseph likes to walk into the first day of school eager to learn and take on a new year…as a teacher that is! As Michigan Teacher of the Year, Joseph teaches fifth and sixth grade at Birmingham Public Schools, but admits that he never stops learning from his students.

For years, Grand Rapids Public Schools seemed to be sinking. Now, that's all changing. GRPS Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal explains how, and why, the district is improving — and where it needs to go.

Tables are arranged, whiteboards cleaned and the teacher’s desk organized. As my students walk in, I greet each with an individual “good morning,” knowing that simple gesture is the first step to building a strong, successful classroom full of engaged students.

Matthew Boulay is the founder of the National Summer Learning Association, a nonprofit focused on closing the achievement gap through summer learning. Boulay has a master’s degree in public policy from John Hopkins University and a doctorate in sociology from the Teacher’s College of Columbia University. His book, Summers Matter, is a guide for parents and educators on how they can support children’s education throughout the summer months. 

An ever-increasing number of students are opting for language immersion programs in schools across West Michigan, and parents, educators and researchers are finding that the focus on another language is resulting in better grades, higher test scores and a deeper connection with their city -- and their world.

Unleashing a child’s creativity can be likened to turning on a faucet — the water is plentiful, but needs to get to the surface. Grand Haven Area Public Schools Summer Theatre provides that outlet to children in the Greater Tri-Cities community. 

Officials from Ottawa Area intermediate School District, Herman Miller and Grand Rapids Community College are launching a new and unique early college program for area high school students, combining work and education experiences during the school year and summer months.

Summer school. Until recently, those were the last two words any high school student wanted to hear together. But these days, enrolling in summer courses is taking on a whole new meaning.